See how it will work
The seven fingers - five natural and two artificial - move in sync, without anyone needing to give commands to the robotic fingers each time, which in the future, after the necessary improvements, will become smaller and lighter.
The goal is for the fingers to fold to a third of their current size and be integrated into a bracelet or watch, from which they can be removed when needed and then put back in place.
The scientists, led by Professor Harry Asada of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, who made the relevant publication - announcement at a robotics conference in California, according to the BBC, stated that their machine will help people who have limited manual dexterity or who want to lift heavy objects.
The robotic fingers use software algorithms to calculate how they should move in sync with the natural fingers. The two artificial fingers are located at either end of the hand, one after the thumb and one after the little finger.
The researchers hope it will be a matter of habit until people feel like these robotic fingers are natural extensions of their bodies. "Like a tool you've been using for a long time, the robot will feel like an extension of your hand," said Harry Asada.
The control algorithms of the robotic fingers “train” them to mimic the movement of human fingers. The longer someone wears the extra fingers, the better they will learn to grasp and manipulate an object correctly, depending on the preferences and peculiarities of each person or depending on different circumstances.
The military is expected to be interested in the new -precise- discovery, while whether the robotic fingers will find wider future applications will also depend on their price.
